Scripture:
Psalm 139:1-14
Reflection:
The ten Boom family lived in Haarlem, Holland, where they lived above their watchmakers shop. Corrie was a skilled watchmaker and worked in the shop with her father Caspar. They were a Christian family, known to love the Jews, God’s chosen people. So, when Holland was overrun by the Nazis in May 1940, the local Rabbi brought all his books to them in the hope that they would be able to hide them.
For the first few months, persecution of the Jews was light, but then they were ordered to wear the yellow Star of David with the word ‘Jew’ in the centre. Then Jews began to disappear. The ten Boom family gave protection to some Jewish neighbours when their shop was ransacked by German soldiers. Corrie is said to have prayed: ‘Lord Jesus, I offer myself for your people. In any way. Any place. Any time’, and she became involved in the Dutch underground movement. She developed contacts who could supply ration cards and false identification cards, and they began to take in Jewish fugitives and take them to a safe haven.
Corie’s own room at the top of their house was converted into a secret hiding place, in case the house was raided by the Gestapo. They were able to house nine ‘guests’ at a time, but they had to be very careful as their home was close to the police station. It is thought that as many as 800 Jews were saved by the Ten Booms in this period. On one occasion, Corries was summonsed to see the Chief of Police and she feared the worst. However, it turned out that he was a believer, and was seeking her help.
Their house was raided in February 1944, but the soldiers failed to find the secret room where the Jewish guests were hiding. Corrie and her sister Betsie were beaten but the raiders left empty handed. Guards were set around the house to ‘starve out’ anyone hiding there, and finally Corrie (considered the ‘ringleader’) and Betsie were arrested and taken to the Gestapo headquarters in the Hague. Their father collapsed and died ten days later.
From the Hague, Corrie and Betsie were transferred to a camp in Scheveningen, and though they faced great danger and suffering they drew strength from their faith and knew God’s presence with them throughout their ordeal. Corrie was put into solitary confinement for four months and eventually transferred to a work camp in Southern Holland. There she was re-united with Betsie and together they ministered to their fellow prisoners. They met with other believers to read the Bible and encourage one another.
Camp life was grim: over-crowding, long working-hours in a local factory, the frequent sound of the firing squad all had an impact on them.
As the Allied forces moved through Europe in September 1944, all hope of being freed was dashed when they were transferred to Ravensbruck camp in Germany, where conditions were even worse. Corrie managed to conceal a small Bible and a bottle of vitamins in a pouch around her neck. Each evening believers of all denominations met together, and were unmolested by the guards because the room was swarming with fleas.
Life became even worse as winter set in, and long roll calls were held in the open early each morning. The food was poor, and there was a lack of proper medical care. Betsie’s health deteriorated, but her faith grew stronger. Many of the prisoners were converted by the witness of both sisters.
Finally, Betsie was admitted to the camp hospital. Not long before she died, she had a vision which she shared with Corrie. She saw a large house in Holland she felt they were to work, caring for people who has been scarred by the war. She also said that they would be released before the beginning of the next year. Betsie died, an Corrie was released on the 31st December 1944.
Corrie went on to open the house as Betsie had seen, housing concentration camp survivors, and unemployed Dutch people who had collaborated with the Germans. In 1946 Corrie met and forgave two former concentration camp guards, one of whom had been especially cruel to Betsie.
Corrie travelled to world telling her story and giving glory to God. She also wrote many books, the best-known being The Hiding Place and Tramp for the Lord. The former was made into a film in 1971, and a follow-up film Return to the Hiding Place in 2011. Corrie died on her 91st birthday from a stroke.
Prayer:
A simple prayer by Corrie ten Boom:
“Dear Jesus...how foolish of me to have called for human help when You are here.”
Songs:
It is well with my soul – Sovereign Grace Music
Oceans - Hillsong
Food for Thought:
Pray that God would give you the faith of Betsie and Corrie, to praise and serve him even in adverse circumstances.